Joe Jackson, patriarch of the Jacksons clan, dead at 89

One of the most important people in modern music history, the father of Janet Jackson and the late Michael Jackson, and the mastermind behind The Jackson 5 had been hospitalized with terminal cancer since last Friday (June 22), an illness he had been battling for a long time. He died on Wednesday at a Las Vegas hospital.

A twitter message posted to his account on Sunday, though not confirmed to have been written by Jackson, gave clues to the seriousness of his condition, “I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not the sun sets when the time comes.”

I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not the sun sets when the time comes. pic.twitter.com/PGcmbulzyC

Jackson launched the musical Jackson family dynasty managing the early careers of Michael, Janet the sibling singing group, The Jackson 5.

Jackson’s life was not without controversy. He faced allegations of child abuse from his own children, most prominently from Michael, which Jackson denied, “I never beat him. I whipped him with a stick and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick.” The relationship between Jackson and son Michael was never full mended. When Michael died in 2009, his father was left out of his will.

Jackson’s grandson, Randy Jackson Jr., son of Randy Jackson, tweeted, “RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you grandpa.”